Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Hotel operating revenues	$ 464,173	$ 437,171	$ 1,332,586	$ 1,243,744
Rental income	78,278	73,747	231,830	207,561
FF&E reserve income	1,065	968	3,517	3,159
Total revenues	543,516	511,886	1,567,933	1,454,464
Hotel operating expenses	322,012	308,603	923,239	870,689
Depreciation and amortization	90,139	84,261	266,192	243,812
General and administrative	37,739	19,831	91,127	53,820
Acquisition related costs	156	851	885	1,986
Total expenses	450,046	413,546	1,281,443	1,170,307
Operating income (loss)	93,470	98,340	286,490	284,157
Dividend income	626		1,375
Interest income	89	11	227	32
Interest expense	(41,280)	(36,628)	(124,564)	(107,918)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(158)		(228)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings (losses) of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	52,747	61,723	163,300	176,271
Income tax expense	(948)	(514)	(3,483)	(1,445)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	13	(24)	107	71
Income before gain on sale of real estate	51,812	61,185	159,924	174,897
Gain on sale of real estate				11,015
Net income	51,812	61,185	159,924	185,912
Total assets	6,586,132		6,586,132		$ 6,394,797
Corporate
Segment Information
General and administrative	37,739	19,831	91,127	53,820
Acquisition related costs			0
Total expenses	37,739	19,831	91,127	53,820
Operating income (loss)	(37,739)	(19,831)	(91,127)	(53,820)
Dividend income	626		1,375
Interest income	89	11	227	32
Interest expense	(41,280)	(36,628)	(124,564)	(107,918)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(158)		(228)
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings (losses) of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	(78,462)	(56,448)	(214,317)	(161,706)
Income tax expense	(948)	(514)	(3,483)	(1,445)
Equity in earnings (losses) of an investee	13	(24)	107	71
Income before gain on sale of real estate				(163,080)
Net income	(79,397)	(56,986)	(217,693)	(163,080)
Total assets	115,937		115,937		62,088
Hotels | Operating segments
Segment Information
Hotel operating revenues	464,173	437,171	1,332,586	1,243,744
Rental income	8,412	8,199	24,880	24,339
FF&E reserve income	1,065	968	3,517	3,159
Total revenues	473,650	446,338	1,360,983	1,271,242
Hotel operating expenses	322,012	308,603	923,239	870,689
Depreciation and amortization	56,397	54,100	167,485	159,421
Acquisition related costs	156	851	885	1,986
Total expenses	378,565	363,554	1,091,609	1,032,096
Operating income (loss)	95,085	82,784	269,374	239,146
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings (losses) of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	95,085	82,784	269,374	239,146
Income before gain on sale of real estate				239,146
Net income	95,085	82,784	269,374	239,146
Total assets	3,965,330		3,965,330		3,892,316
Travel Centers | Operating segments
Segment Information
Rental income	69,866	65,548	206,950	183,222
Total revenues	69,866	65,548	206,950	183,222
Depreciation and amortization	33,742	30,161	98,707	84,391
Total expenses	33,742	30,161	98,707	84,391
Operating income (loss)	36,124	35,387	108,243	98,831
Income before income taxes, equity in earnings (losses) of an investee and gain on sale of real estate	36,124	35,387	108,243	98,831
Income before gain on sale of real estate				98,831
Gain on sale of real estate				11,015
Net income	36,124	$ 35,387	108,243	$ 109,846
Total assets	$ 2,504,865		$ 2,504,865		$ 2,440,393